Ireland Garda watchdog finds no wrongdoing by gardaí over Carlow shopping centre shooting
Evan Fitzgerald, a 22-year-old man, was charged about a year before the incident, along with two other men, over allegedly attempting to source weapons online. On 1 June 2025 Fitzgerald discharged a number of shots inside the Fairgreen Shopping Centre in Carlow, and gardaí responded to 999 calls at the centre. Fitzgerald took his own life after gardaí responded, and Fiosrú, the Garda Ombudsman, investigated his death after a referral from An Garda Síochána. On 29 July 2026 Fiosrú closed its investigation into the responding gardaí, finding no criminal offence or disciplinary breach, and the inquest into Fitzgerald's death has yet to take place.
- Reported
- Arrested
- Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Evan Fitzgerald, a 22-year-old man, discharged a number of shots inside the Fairgreen Shopping Centre.
- Fitzgerald took his own life after gardaí responded.
- Where
- The shooting took place inside the Fairgreen Shopping Centre in Carlow.
- When
- The shooting took place on 1 June 2025.
- Weapon
- The firearm used was not Fitzgerald's own but was legally held by someone else.
- Investigation
- Gardaí responded to 999 calls at the shopping centre.
- Fiosrú, the Garda Ombudsman, investigated Fitzgerald's death after a referral from An Garda Síochána.
- Fiosrú found no criminal offence or disciplinary breach by the gardaí who responded, and closed its investigation into them on 29 July 2026.
- Charges
- About a year before the shooting, Fitzgerald was charged with two other men over allegedly attempting to source weapons online.
- In court
- The inquest into Fitzgerald's death has not yet taken place.
- Other details
- A barrel of flammable liquid was found at Fitzgerald's home.
9 statements extracted from the articles
- whatFitzgerald took his own life by suicide after gardaí responded. (thejournal.ie)
- whereShots were fired inside the Fairgreen Shopping Centre in Carlow. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe shooting took place on 1 June 2025. (thejournal.ie)
- weaponThe firearm used was not Fitzgerald's own but was legally held by someone else. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationFiosrú, the Garda Ombudsman, investigated Fitzgerald's death after a referral from An Garda Síochána. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationFiosrú found no criminal offence or disciplinary breach by gardaí who responded to 999 calls at the shopping centre. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeFitzgerald had been charged a year before the shooting, with two other men, over allegedly attempting to source weapons online. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe inquest into Fitzgerald's death has not yet taken place. (thejournal.ie)
- otherA barrel of flammable liquid was found at Fitzgerald's home. (thejournal.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 1 Jul2026Garda watchdog finds no wrongdoing by gardaí who responded to Carlow shopping mall shooting
Reports that Fiosrú has closed its investigation into the responding gardaí, finding no criminal offence or disciplinary breach; the inquest into Fitzgerald's death is yet to take place.
suspect, Evan Fitzgerald, 22, male, named, irish (judged from name)Evan Fitzgerald